Signaling system and appliances.



J. G. N OLEN. SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPLIANGES. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. a. 190e.

i 948,738. Patented Feb. s, 1910.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. G. N GLEN.. SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPLIANGES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAE. 8, 1906.

- J. G. NOLBN.

SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPLIANGES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1906.

Patented Feb.8, 1910. l J 4 SHEETS-SHEET s. i@

.f y y mw/Mim? r.1G. MOLENTV SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPLIANCES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR..8, 1906,

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Lw@ 7732?@ @7726@ Jolv,

l UNITED STATES PATENT carica.

JAMES e. NoLEN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Ass'IeNoR To JOHN E. SHEPHERD, or

cHIcAGo,

"ILLINOIS,

SIGNALING SY`SJ.".EI1VIy AND APPLIANCES.

Specification ofdLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Application filed March s, 1906., seriarNo. 304,811.'

ful Improvements in Signaling Systems and Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesto signaling systems and appliances, and has among its salient objects to provide a4 system of electric supervision of the conditions existing' in certain areas or devices, which system.will involve the transmission of signals upon the occurrence of certain conditions in the area or device supervised, dist-ingui'shable'from signals transmitted upon the occurrence of undue conditions in the signaling system itself., y

Another important object of my invent-ion is to provide .a retarded transmission device wherein the conditions in an associated circuit Aso iniuence the transmitter that it will operate to transmit a signal only after the maintenance of definite conditions in the cir- .cuit for a predetermined time.

Another object of my invention is to provide an eiiicient and reliable retarded motor'- controlling apparatus'.

A further object of my vinvention is to provide a signaling system involving a two wire protective" or supervisory circuit, -as'sociated with an alarm` transmitter and a trouble transmitter, so that the alarm transmitter res 'onds only to the establishment of some pre etermined condition in the protective circuit-such for instance as the establishment of a `crossbetween the protective circuit wireswhile the trouble alarm is re-y sponsive to abnormal conditions in the circuit such as the breaking of one por both -of the protective circuit wires.

Yet another bbject of my inventionY is to lso arrange such equipment that the rupture of one or both prtltective Wires does not disable the alarm transmitter to perform its function u on `the subsequent establishment of the con ition to which it is responsive.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide suitable mechanism in association with Vthe .transmitters to insure the responsiveness of the alarm-transmitter to the signal initiating condition whenfthe normal circuit conditions have been'deranged by the existence of trouble asdescri'bed.

Vith aview to attaining these and other objects which will best become ap arent to those skilled in the art from the ollovvingl description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated an operative embodiment of my invention, my inventionV consists in the combinat-ions and arrangements of parts and .devices hereinafter claimed.v y

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a structure combining a trouble transmitter, an alarm transmitter and an automatic switch device. Fig. 2 is .a detailof the pen structure shown inFig. 1.` Fig.

3 is an elevation of the construction shown in Fig. l, with the. front plate ofthe'tran'smitters and `the signaling instrumentalities removed, to show the motor,l mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail of the motor disabling lever showing its association with the motorv and timing mechanism. Fig. 5- is a diagram`` matic view illustrating vthe circuit connec-. y

tions of theA parts shown in Figs. 1 and-3. Fig. 6 is a simplified diagram of the local circuitsu'nder normal conditions and, Fig. 7 is a similar diagram showing the circuits under conditions oftrouble.'

Throughout the drawingslike characters ofreferen'ce refer always to like parts. 4

vvReferring rst tothe electro-mechanical construction shown in Figs. land 3, A indicates in general the alarm transmitter, C its controlling device, T the trouble transmitter, R its retarding controller and S anautomatic switch operated'by the transmitter T. These parts are, for convenience,

preferably associated in a single structure for inclosure 1n a unitary casing.

Referring to the trouble transmitter T; indicates in general a clock work motor involving a gear train, which, it will be understood, may be spring driven in the usual manner. f

t1 is a signal wheel of any carried by the arbor of one of the me1`n bersof the train, with which coperates the circuit breaking pen t2, normally bearing `upon and' closing contact with an anvil t3 To provide a double break, double pens and anvils may preferably be provided, as a mat# .-terof detail, as shown in Fig. 1,

ordinary type,-4

movable members.

The disabling device of the motor, generally indicated as D in Figs. 3 and 4, comprises a pivoted lever d one end of which is notched as at d and arranged to coact with the pin t of the escapement mechanism to stop or prevent the running of the motor undernormal conditions. 4

The lever @Z is normally maintained in motor-disabling position by the`weight of its opposite extremity cl2, which projects into the path of a moving part of the controlling device, to be described, and which is susceptible of movement by said part of the controlling device to such raisedposition that the notched end d of said disabling lever is removed from the path of oscillation of the' pin t to permit the train to run freely,-if potentially conditioned so to do by the winding of the spring.

The retarding controller, vgenerally indicated as R, comprises generally an electromagnet r controlling th'e position of an armature, with which is associated a moving part, definitely timed in its movement, and associated with the disabling lever to move it to unlatched or motor-releasing position after predetermined movement at its timed rate of motion.

More specifically the magnet r is provided with curvedpole pieces r1, and a curved armature r2 pivoted as at r3. Mounted forV movement with the armature is aaveight arm r4 carrying an adjustable weight r at its extremity, and with the armature is also mounted a lever arm r provided at its end with a dog rl and a roller frs. The armature and the arms moving therewith are loosely mounted on the shaft r3 upon which is 'tightly fixed a ratchet r and gear 1110, the former being associated with the pawl rl to be moved thereby in one direction, and the latter being geared through a suitable train generally indicated as r to a fan or ily 7112. rThese parts are yso arranged that as long as the magnet r is yenergized the armature r2 stands in the normal or erect position shown in Fig. 3, with the weighted arm r4 elevated and the arm rfdepressed. When, however, the magnet is de'energized the Weight r promptly starts to descend, in its descent rotating the armature r2 and elevating the lever arm r6. Descent is retarded, however, by the fiy or fan r as the pawl carried by -the lever arm r engages its ratchet 1" during this movement of the parts. After a' predetermined lapse of time, however, regulable, within limits, by adjustment of the weight 1', the lever arm r is raised to such an extent that its roller rs strikes and elevates the extremity Z2 of thedisabling lever alV to release the trouble transmitter train as 'heretofore described.

The alarm transmitter A comprises a spring driven train arranged to drive at a suitable rate of rotation a number wheel a withfwhich coacts the double pen and anvil a2, as, similar'to those provided in 'the trouble transmitter. The toothed arrangen'ient of the Wheel a is preferably dissimllar to that of the signal wheel t in the number of repetitions of the signal number upon its periphery, and the-mechanism is preferably so arranged that in the running down of the transmitter motor mechanism the wheel a is rotated a plura'lity'of times.

With the pallet 'a4 of the train is associated'a Wheel a bearing a pin a", which during the operation of the motor vibrates rapidly.

The controlling mechanism C comprises an electro-magnet c the armature of which c is provided with a pin c2 arranged when the armature isl unattracted and depressed to intercept the path of'movement of the pin a of the escapement mechanism, and

when raised or attracted, 'tolbe moved from such path.

The switch S, heretofore referred to, comprises preferably a double set of three contacts, of which,.as best shown in Fig. 2, s1 and e2 represent the longer, movable springs, s" and s4 represent the upper springs or anvils with Which the longer, movable springs 81 and s2 respectively normally make contact, and s and s represent back springs, normally non-contacting with the respective springs 81,. e2, but adapted to receive said springs respectively in Contact when'the switch is actuated by the switchlever s of the trouble transmitter. The switch members s1, s2 are arranged to move together through the interposition there-between of an insulating block 87, and in practice to protect the insulating block 37 and to give good'surface forthe roller t9 to act on, a spring metal leaf 8.* is provided, as shown in Fin: 1.

Referring nowto the circuit diagram shown in Figs. 5 to 7, it will be seen that the pens of the signal transmitters `A and T are connected in a line circuit L extending to' some suitable supervisory station, which may be a" central station removed at any dis'- tance Afrom the location of the transmitter, while the electro-responsive devices constituting part of the controller C and retarded controller R are included in a. protective supervisor circuit system, herein illustrated as a c1rcu1t.

tral ,station equipped with the usual 1n thevground branch ofthe generator and the other in the main line, said relays respectivelv controlling fthe local circuits lah( lenergize by batteries i, z", and containin the signal responsive instruments'k, 1c', a of any usual or preferred construction. m-

indicates a switch having its post constantl connectedto one side of the line, and a bla' e arranged for connection to either terminal of the generator. From the generator G a line wire Z extends to binding'post 1 of the instrument shown in Fig. 1, and thence in. series through the pens and anvils t?, t2, and ost 2 to as, a?, returnin throughbinding the central station andthe'otherV si' e of the generator. j For purposes of signaling through either side of the line and a ground'return a connection is established from signaling wheels a', t through the clock frame by wire'3 to abinding post 4, thence by wire 5 to ground. Aslocal source of current supply-, such4 as a local battery Z b', isprovided at vthe station to be protected, and :is-connected bywires' 6and 7 to binding posts 8 and 9 respectively'.

From the binding ost-8, a wire 10 4extends to the magnet c c the' controller C of the alarm transmitter, and from the-other side of said coil extendsa wire 11 to a binding post 12, with vwhichis connected a wire 13 constituting. one of the pair of supervisory wires, said wlre 13 being loopedthroughthe area to be supervised and connected with thebinding post 14, to which is also connected a wire 15 extending Ato the magnet coils r of the retard controller R, the opposite side-' of which is connected b wire 16 with the tongue s" of the switch said tongue being normally connected with'the spring s2. of sald switch, which in turn has connectionv by wire'17 with the binding post 18. VFrom -the binding post 18 the parallel or sec-- ondary Wire 19. of the supervisory loop istinct, locally-energized j normally Referring to Fig. 5 C S indicates a cen- V es with ai@ binding pta 2o. Thus, as best es shown in Fig. 6, a. closed local circuit is' established, yfrom the local battery L B by 4wire the supervisory loop Wire 19 t'o binding post 18, thence by wire 17 to the switch sprin s, coacting contacts4 by Wire 16 to the co1 1' ofthe retarded'controlle'r R thence by wire 15"to binding post 14, through the supervisoryi loop wire 13 to binding post 12, thence by ,Wire 23 to the spring s and from its contact a8 by Wire 22 to binding post 8, which is connected by Wire 6 'to the opposite 4side of'i'the battery. A parallel path between the binding posts 8 and 12 is provided through the coil c of the controlling device C ofthe alarm transmitter A, but 'such electro-responsive device remains practically in' ert because of its high resistance relative to the vshort circuit path afforded through wires 22 and 23 and the switch partes, 81. In this circuit last traced it w1llbeseen that the physically-parallel supervisory series' with the electro-responsive device of the retarded -trouble transmitter and the local batter -L B, the local-battery' .being connectedv t rough both of the supervisory Wires`13 and 19 as the two sides of a circuit,

with th'el coilv of the retarded controller, so

that a ru ture of either Wire 'or a short circuiting-o the Wires 13 and 19 so diminishes the current iiow'to said magnet that it becomes practically denergized.

.vices comprising circuit closers 26 normally open, and adapted t'o-be closed to establish a cross betweenthe supervisory Wires. The `circuit closers 26 may obviously be 7, to binding post 9, thence l by vvire21 to the binding post 20, through 1 Uroundedgenerator G, and -relays g, g', one

Wires 13 and 19 are includedv in electrical Bridging the supervisory circuit Wires 13 I vand19,are connected signal -initiating de- :i0 extends (usually :in physical parallel or paired relation to wire 13 through the area lto be protected, to the bin ing post 20, which has connection by wire 21- with the binding post 9., heretofore adverted to.

YA connectonin vparallel to and sliert-v circuiting the electromagnet' c is provided by Wire 22 extending from binding post 8 to the switch spring s3 land' 'Wire 23, eX- tending from the coacting spring s' to thev binding ost 12. The rear normally-open post 12, thence by wire 13 through the short contact or the switch spring' s is concircuit 26 and backby wire 19,'binding post nected by wire 24 with "the binding post 2Q, wire 21, binding post 9, and wire 7 to 14 and the corresponding spring aB of the the opposite side of the battery. This short companion set of springs, connected byl wirecircuit practically denergiz'es the electrotions 'with one of the circuit closers 26, to close the circuit each time the valve is raised. 115

Assuming now the valve to be raised or any circuit closer 26 in any Way closed, the

operationof the parts is as follows, as may be best understood from `the simplified diagram in Fig. 6; from the battery L B a closed` circuit is established through wire 6 ,to Abinding post 8, by Wire 22 to contact s3 fromv the spring s by wire 23 to binding.

operating arm t8, strikes the `pressing it upon the insulating lock aT and shifting the companion switch members 81,

magnet r of the trouble transmitter, so that the weight r causes the armature r to turn, and through its ratchet and pawl connection with the clock train, sets the fly or fan r1 in motion.- After the lapse of a predetermined time, determinedby thevadjustment of the weight T5, the roller rg carried by the arm 7' strikes the disabling lever d depressing its notched vend and releasing the Vibrating pallet, so that under the impulse of i-ts Sprin the motor of the trouble transmitter Tiegins -to rotate the signal wheel t. The rotation of the signal wheel t obviously causes interruptions of the main circuit L causing the operation of the signal register at the central station in the usual and well understood manner. The signal sent by the trouble transmitter is 'one round, in the present illustration the number 33. When now the trouble transmitter has completed its signal the roller t carried by the switch late s8 de- .92 out of contact with their normally closed I contacts s, stand into contact with the normally open contacts s, s respectively. Now if the connection of points 8183 and s2, s* be broken before connection between points s1, s and a2, s are made,l the circuit is changed to the condition illustrated in Fig. 7, there being formed two parallel circuits each completely closed, the one circuit coin-- prisin supervisory circuit wire 13, and wires 24- an 23, `closed at the switch point 85 and the othercircuitincluding the supervisory circuit wire 19, and wires 25 and 17, the latterbeing closedat the switch point s". Between these two closed circuits,'or loops, are bridged'a battery L B and the coil c of the controller for the alarm transmitter,

the Short circuit around the magnet of said ingly t controller having been broken at the switch oint s", b

wire 1.9,respectively having been connected by the signal initiator 26, a circuit is established from the-local battery lL B by wire 6 'to binding post 8, thence by wire 10 through the coils c of the alarm transmitter controller Cby wire 11 to binding post 12, thence throu h wire 13 to signal initiating d wire 19, binding post 2O and 21 binding post 9 and wire 7 to the opposite side f the battery. Accorde electromagnet c of the alarm transmitter controller C is energized, and

attracts its armature, thereby releasing the es capement mechanism ofthe alarm transmittzer, so.that, if properly wound, or4 potentially conditioned for operation, said transmitter is released for operation and `.transmits its :predetermined signal of preferably a plurality of rounds-say two the operation of the switch. ow, the c osed loops including wire 13 and If (considering thelcircuit and appliances l to be innorinal condition) one oniboth of u the supervisory circuit wires 13 and 19- be broken, the coil i of the trouble transmitter T is obviously denergized,. so that Vthe transmitter transmits its trouble signal in the manner heretofore described, and upon the completion of -its'signaL operates the switch S to throw the circuit into the con-dition shown in-Fig. 7. Obviously, however,

'the alarm transmitter does not operate, `as no closed circuit is rovided under the new conditions betweent e poles of the local battery L B. It will further be apparent, however, that even in the event of the break of both supervisory wires the alarm transmitter'niay yet perform its function, for in the. event of a cross, as at 26 (see dotted lines in Fig. 7) upon either side of the double break a closed circuit such as that heretofore described is com leted including the local battery and the coi c of the alarm transmitter, so that the transmitter is caused to transmitits signal as heretoforedescribed..

Such circuit on the one side will be established through parts L B, 6, 8, 10, c, 11, 12 23, 24, 1113,26, 19, 18,17, 82, si, 25, 2o, 21, 9v and 7, and Von the other sidethrough parts L B, 6, 8 10, 0,11, 12, 13, '26, 19,20,

21,9 and 7. If, however, the abnormal conditionscaused by the crossing of wires 13 and 19 or the breaking of one of said vwires. bey maintained for a shorter period of time than the predetermined time of retardation of the operation of the trouble transmitter controller, and normalcondition be then. re-

'storedfas for example when the valve V is aliected by water-hammer to rapidly rise and fall, thereby breaking and making in rapid succession the cross connection 26V bef tween wires 13 and 19-110 alarm whatever is transmitted. Whenever the cross occurs.

the magnet r becomes denergized and the weighted arm r4 commences to descendbut instantly upon the restoration of'norinall conditions and renergiza'tion of the mag-- net 1' the armature r2 ies back into normal position, the ratchet connections of the lever arm r with the train permitting unobstructed movement of the armature in this direc- `tion. Consequently false alarms of trouble are never transmitted from water-hammer or othereii'ects'causing momentary derangement of' the circuit conditions from normal conditions.

Under the conditions heretofore described,

the controller() for the alarm transmitter A.

is unretarded, so that after a trouble such as a break in a supervisory wire, causing the operation of the transmitter 'T and a switching of connection at switch S, a subseduent-water-liammer momentarily causing the establishment of -a cross between the wires 13 and 19 would result in the tripping o f transmitter A. This disadvantage is obviated, however, by an arrangement l that constitutes of the controller R a re-y transmitter tarder for transmitter lA under such conditions. By so arranging the switchiniembers thattoiigues ls an s2 make contact with tongues 85' and s6 before leaving tongues s?" and s4 such results is obtained.

I-Iarking T` iii the event of a broken Wire,

' it will be seen that if, after the signal is ing contact with springs sent by the transmitter, but before the motor is run-down, the switch tongues s1,- -82 are closed upon springs s, 8 but without leavsa, s, a circuit is established independent of the supervisory wires including parts as follows; L 1B, .6,

8, 22, 83, s?, s, 24, 14, 15, fr,- 16, s4, 82,8, 25, 20, 21, 9 and 7. Accordingly coil r of 'the controller Ris energized and the armature restored to raised'position,

so that the trouble motor thereby disabling lever d stops the holdingthel circuit 1n the condition last de-A iscri-bed.

26 establishes its cross, as hereto .so that the circuit is established throu h of two indepen ently coil c and wires'10-11, as heretofore cescribed.

While I have herein described in detail an o erative embodiment of my invention, whic I have practically employed and found to be advantageous in construction and operation, I do not intend to limit my invention tothe specific construction and arrangement of mechanical parts or circuits shown and described, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes in construction and arrangement might be made without departure from/the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire' to secure by Letters Patent, of the United States, is: v

1. In a signalin system, the combination driven signaling wheels, electro-responsive controlling means therefor, suitablecircuits for said controlling means, and electrical lmeans operatively controlled. by the controlling means for one only of said wheels for preventing the o eration of the other vof said signaling whee s back now to the operationiofthe' 4with the circuit ving u ntilthe first said wheel has completed its signaling operation.

2. In a signaling system in combination, suitable circuits, two signal transmitting wheels, independent driving means therefor, electro-responsive controlling means for said wheels, normally iii-association with the p y circuit to condition one wheel only for operation and "to disable the other, and means for automatically varying .said controlling means with the circuit after the operation of the normally operative .wheel to condition the other wheel for signal operation and disable the first.

3. In a signaling system in combination, a signal transmitter having an electro-re-l sponsive controller, a second .signalt-ransmitter havin lan electro-responsive controller, suitabe circuits for said controllers to rende'i` them operable to unlike abnormal conditions therein, and electrical means for preventing the operation ofv the secondl transmitter "until the first lsaid transmitter has completed its operation.

the relation of 4. In a signaling system in combination, l]

suitable circuits, a signal transmitter lhaving an electro responsive controller normally in operative association with the circuit, a second signal transmitter having an electroresponsive controller normally in inoperativeassociatio'n with the Icircuit and means operable bythe first said controlier for vary- .ing the relation of the second said controller from inoperative to operative association therewith.

5. In an electric signaling system, in combination, suitable circuits, asignal initiat ing device therein, two sigial transmitters,

electro-responsive controllers therefor, one

normally influenced by its circuit conditions, and the otherv normally of the circuit conditions, and means operable by the irst said controller for bringing the second said controller. within theinfluence of the circuit conditions.

6.- In a signaling system, in combination,

without the influenceV iio suitable circuits, la signal initiating `device'-- therein, a signalin device having an electro,- res onsive coiitrolier normally in the circuit to e influenced by the circuit conditions, a second signal transmitter having an electro responsive device normally without .the inf fluence of the circuit conditions, and a switch `for varying the circuit connections to render the second responsive device operatively'responsive to theactionof the s i nal v initiating device upon the circuit, sai switch becontrolled by the first said transmitter. t. 4In a signaling system, in combination, a suitable supervisory circuit,'nor mally energized, a signal transmitter comprising a normally wound mot0r an electroresponsive motor-controlling apparatus, said electromally operatively associated With the said circuit, a second transmitter having an electro-responsive controller, normally uniniluenced by the condition of the said circuit, a switch for. varying the association of'said second controller with the circuit to render it operatively sensitive to variations in the circuit conditions, said switchl being operatively associated With the motor of the first said transmitter for actuation thereby upon the completion of the signaling operation of the first said transmitter.

8; In a signaling system of the character described, a source of current supply, physically parallel supervisory Wires, a trouble transmitter havlng an electro responsive controller, normally closed circuit connections establishing connection from opposite poles of the battery through the parallel supervisory wires in series to and including the electro-responsive device of the trouble transmitter, whereby said trouble transmitter is adapted to be conditioned for operation byv a rupture of either supervisory Wire, an alarm transmitter, an electro-res onsive device therefor, and means opera le by the trouble transmitter for connecting theresponsive device of the alarm transmitter in circuit to render it operable upon the est-ablishment of across between thesupervisory wires.

In combination, suitable circuit connections, two ytransmitters, electric means for in- Suring successive operation ofthe two transmitters,electro-responsive means controlling said transmitters, and'means for retarding for a predetermined time the controlling operation of said electro-responsive means.

10. In a system of the character described, t'Wo signal transmitters, successively operable electro-responsive means for controlling the actuation of each transmitter, a common means for timing the operation of the controlling means for both transmitters, and suitable circuit connections.

11. In a system of the character described, two signal transmitters, each having an electro-responsive controller, means for insuring operation of the transmitters in predetermined succession, atiming device associated with the controller of the first acting transmitter, and means operative under certain conditions for automatically associating said timing device with the controller of the second acting transmitter to retard its action after the completion of the signal transmission of the 'rst acting transmitter.

'12. In a. system ofthe character described, suitable circuits, two transmitters, electric means for insuring successive operation of saidv transmitters, electro-responsive means controlling said transmitters, and a single means for timing the controlling operations of said electro responsive means with respect to both transmitters.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand -in the presence of two Witnesses.`

JAMES G. NOLEN.

In the presence of- GEO. T. MAY,'Jr., MARY F. ALLEN. 

